Surface covering and method of applying same



June 18, 1968 J. E. GRUETTNER 3,38 1

SURFACE COVERING AND METHOD OF APPLYING SAME Filed Feb. 9. 1966 ii M11,y if W2 J. E. 3 5E522 5 BY Fig. 4. a ain 4 rune.

United States Patent 3,388,515 SURFACE COVERING AND METHOD OF APPLYINGSAME Jack Eaton Gruettner, 1635 Woodside Lane, Elm Grove, Wis. 53122Filed Feb. 9, 1966, Ser. No. 537,252 6 Claims. (Cl. 52-222) ABSTRACT OFTHE DISCLOSURE A covering which is adapted for application to a surfacehaving exposed supporting members such as beams, joists or studs, whichcovering comprises a plurality of flexible panels whose length exceedsthe spacing of the supporting members and wherein each panel is securednear one edge thereof to a supporting member, the body of the panel isflexed and the other end is snapped into seating engagement with aprojecting edge of a panel previously installed.

Background In many instances, ceiling or wall surfaces of a building areleft unfinished by the home builder so that the basement ceiling exposesthe rough flooring and the attic ceiling and wall exposes the roughroofing and/or exterior wall structure with supporting joists extendingdownwardly or inwardly therefrom. Under modern home constructionpractice, these joists are generally two by six, eight, ten or twelveinch timbers mounted on predetermined uniform centers. The result is anunattractive dirt collecting, non-insulated, noise-transmitting ceilingfor the basement.

It has heretofore been proposed to cover such surfaces with sheets orpanels which fit and are retained between the joists or other supportingmembersvHowever. such previously proposed coverings have generallyrequired special treatment of the supporting members or the addition ofspecial attachment devices thereto for afllxing the panels. For example,the covering shown in U.S. Patent No. 2,311,170 to Hain requires thatthe supporting members be notched or grooved to receive the covering.This is also true of the covering proposed in U.S. Patent No. 2,615,211to Gardner. In addition to the increased expcnse attendant the requirednotching of the supporting members, such a covering does not provide asurface which completely conceals the supporting members.

In other instances, the proposed surface covering requires a specialmounting structure to fasten the sheets or panels to the supportingmembers. Again, however, such coverings are relatively expensive andtime-consuming to apply due to the need for carefully affixing themounting devices and then attaching the panels, and in many instances acontinuous, generally smooth exterior is still not obtained.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide an improvedcovering for a surface having exposed supporting members which providesa continuous exterior to completely hide the supporting members andenclose pipes and other structures lying therebetween While permittingaccess thereto Whenever desired.

Another object of this invention is to provide a covering for a surfacehaving exposed supporting members which provides a generally even andcontinuous exterior without resultant sharp ridges or protrusions,thereby lending a high degree of aesthetic appeal to the covering.

A further object of this invention is to provide an extremely attractivesurface covering which may be simply and easily applied directly to theexposed supporting members without any need whatsoever for specialtreat- "ice ment of those members or the use of special mountingstructures or means which normally decrease available head space orfloor area.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a coveringWhich may be applied to a surface having exposed members Without the useof any special tools or equipment and with a maximum retention of roomarea.

An additional object of this invention is to provide an improved surfacecovering which may be readily adapted to meet diverse conditions andwhich also provides improved insulation, acoustics and roomillumination.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a noveland improved method or system of etfectively and eificiently coveringceilings and walls in an extremely simple, rapid and economical manner.

A further object of this invention is to provide a covering which may beprecut into standard lengths and widths to facilitate installation on asurface having exposed supporting members to greatly minimize the costof such covering.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an attractivesurface covering which may be conveniently stored, transported, handled,and applied.

Summary Briefly, the present invention provides a covering for a surfacehaving exposed supporting members, which covering comprises normallyfiat panels of relatively resilient material fastened along the exposedfaces of said supporting members and each having one marginal edgethereof extending beyond the face of the supporting member to which itis secured to provide an overhanging lip. The remainder of each panelforms a free unattached portion which is resiliently retained by theoverhanging lip formed by an adjacent panel to position the panelsbetween the supporting members and provide a continuous, generallysmooth and unbroken covering for the surface.

The drawings The invention will be more fully understood and betterappreciated by reference to the following specification and drawings,forming a part thereof, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the covering of thepresent invention showing its application to a ceiling having exposedjoists;

FIGURE 2 is a transverse section view showing, in further detail, theapplication of the covering to a joist supported ceiling;

FIGURE 3 is an end view of a resilient panel forming the presentcovering;

FIGURE 4 is a top view of a single panel forming the covering of thepresent invention;

FIGURE 5- is a top view of a strip containing a plurality of panelsdetachably secured to each other; and

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary transverse section illustrating a somewhatmodified embodiment of the invention wherein sheet metal panels or thelike are utilized.

Detailed description Referring now to the drawing, th improved coveringis shown therein as typically applied to a ceiling 6 having exposedjoists 8. However, as indicated hereinabove, it may be applied to anysurface having exposed supporting elements such as studs, joists orbeams.

The covering it} is comprised of a plurality of normally flat sheets orpanels 12 of resilient material. As shown, the panels 12 are generallysquare or rectangular, and may consist of individual sections or stripsof individually separable panel sections. The panels may be of anydesired lengths, but the width thereof must be somewhat greater than theexposed area between the joists which it is intended to cover plus thewidth of the face of the supporting joist to which it is to be attached.

The panels 12 may be constructed of any suitable resilient materialsuchv as sheet metal, plastic, resin impregnated glass mats, heavypaperboard or the like which will retain its resiliency while beingflexed. To apply the covering 10, the panels 12 are secured in edgeabutting relationship along the entire length of the exposed faces 14 ofthe supporting members 8 as by means of nails or staples 16. If desired,holes 15 for receiving nails 16 may be predrilled in the panels 12 atthe time they are cut to size.

In accordance with my invention, the panels 12 are each fastened to theexposed face of a selected one of the supporting members 8 with amarginal edge of the panel protruding slightly beyond the face of themember 8 as at 18 to thus form an overhanging lip along one side of thesupporting member.

The main body of the panel 12 thus protrudes freely beyond the otherside of the supporting member 8 to cover the area between such memberand the adjacent member 8.

Accordingly, after a panel or series of abutting panels 12 are securedin like fashion to the adjacent joist or supporting member 8, the freehanging main body portion of the first panel 12 is forced inwardly,under pressure applied in the direction of the arrow in FIGURE 2, intothe free area between joists until the free end of the panel 12 isseated on the inside of lip 18. The panel 12 is retained in thisposition by its inherent resiliency which causes a constant pressure tobe exerted by its free end against the inner supporting surface of thelip 18 of the panel carried by the adjacent joist 8, and there isaccordingly no need for physically attaching the main body of the panel12 to a support.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that the width of panels 12 isdetermined primarily by the width between supporting members 8 andadditionally by the desired configuration of the finally installedpanels 12. For example, if it is desired to have the panels 12 lierelatively flat, the width of the main body portion 13 of each panel 12should be approximately equal to the distance between joists 8. On theother hand, if it is desired to arch or bow the panels 12, as shown inFIGURE 2, the width of the free main body portion 13 should be in excessof the width between joists 8. While the extent of arching or bowing ofthe panels is a matter of choice, the embodiment shown in FIGURE 2 hassome advantage in that the inherent resilient pressure created byarching or bowing the panels 12 forces the free edge of the panel behindthe overhanging lip 18 of the cooperating panel and into abutment withjoist 8, thereby more firmly locking each panel 12 in position. Thismore positively prevents accidental dislodgment of panels 12 and rendersthe covering somewhat more suitable for use on a vertical surface.

It is apparent that the covering 10 of the present invention completelyhides the supporting members or joists 8, including the exposed faces 14thereof. Additionally, the covering provides a generally smooth andunbroken surface devoid of sharp ridges or protrusions, thereby lendingthe highest degree of aesthetic appeal to the covering. The panels 12may furthermore be constructed of transparent or translucent material tofurnish illumination as from lights which may be mounted betweensupporting members 8. Also, a printed or relief design or decorativeeffect may be applied to the surface of the panels 12 to lenddistinctiveness to the covering. Panels 12 may also be formed in shapesother than rectangles, such as trapezoids, to provide further decorativeeffects to the covering. The panel sheets 12 may be laminated with afacing, backing, or both, such as shown by 20 in FIGURE 2 to supply heatinsulation, sound insulation, fire retardation or other desiredproperties to the covering, or they may be of single ply material.

Although the foregoing description refers to the free and unattachedmain body portions as being bowed or arched inwardly between thesupporting members, it should be understood that such portions may bebowed or arched outwardly as illustrated by the panels 10 and bodyportions 12' in FIGURES l and 2. This enables the covering of pipes 22or the like without reducing head room or floor space, and if desired, auniform pattern can be followed as by alternately arching the panel bodyportions 12, 12' in opposite directions or all may be arched outwardly.

Referring now to FIGURE 6, it may sometimes be desirable, particularlyin the case of side wall coverings, to form the panels of metal sheetsand provide some means for preventing accidental displacement of thefree ends of the panels. In such instances, the panels 30, as shown inFIGURE 6, may be formed in a suitable known manner with interlockingedges 33, 34 along the lip portion 38 and the main body portion 32respectively of each panel. Thus, after the panels are attached to thesupporting members and the free body portions thereof are positionedwithin the areas between the supporting members as hereinabovedescribed, the interlocking edges 33, 34 are brought into interlockingengagement as shown and these edges coact and tend to preventinadvertent displacement.

In instances wherein the covering is to be applied to surfaces of astandard length, the panels 12 may be precut in length so that a singlesheet may traverse the entire length of the surface between two adjacentsupporting members 8, thus eliminating seems or cracks. To facilitatestorage, transportation and handling of the panels 12, they may bemanufactured in strip form with spaced scoring, as in FIGURE 5, wherebythe individual panels may be detached or separated as needed. Also, thefastening devices 16 may be formed with decorative exposed heads, or thepanels may be secured to their supports as by means of suitableadhesives or the like.

While the covering disclosed and described herein constitutes thepreferred form of invention, it will, be understood that it is capableof alteration without departing from the spirit or scope of theinvention, and all modifications that fall within the scope of theappended claims are intended to be included therein. It is alsocontemplated that certain descriptive terminology employed herein shallbe given the broadest possible interpretation consistent with thedisclosure.

Various modes of carrying out the invention are contemplated as beingwithin the scope of the following claims particularly pointing out anddistinctly claiming the subject matter that is regarded as theinvention.

I claim:

1. A surface covering for a series of laterally spaced and substantiallyparallel supporting members having substantially coplanar exposedsurfaces, said covering comprising, a plurality of flexible panels whichare substantially flat in their normal relaxed condition secured in-Wardly of one edge thereof to the exposed surfaces of the supportingmembers, the free edge of each of said panels projecting beyond theexposed surface of its supporting member to provide a supporting lip,and the opposite edge of each of said panels being supported on the lipof a panel secured. to an adjacent supporting member with the spanningportion of each panel between the supporting members being arcuatelyflexed in a stressed condition.

2. A surface covering according to claim 1, wherein the spanning portionof each panel between the supporting members is bowed inwardly relativeto the coplanar surfaces.

3. A surface covering according to claim 1, wherein the spanning portionof each. panel between the supporting members is bowed outwardlyrelative to the coplanar surfaces.

4. A surface covering according to claim 1, wherein the said oppositeedge of each panel is freely supported on the lip of the adjacent paneland bears against the supporting member thereof.

5. A surface covering according to claim 1, wherein the said oppositeedge of each panel is interlocked with the lip of the adjacent panel.

6. The method of applying a surface covering to a plurality ofsupporting members, which comprises, selecting supporting members to becovered which are positioned in substantially parallel relationpredetermined distances apart with substantially coplanar exposedsurfaces, securing flexible panels which are substantially fiat in theirnormal relaxed condition and of a width exceeding the predeterminedspacing of the supporting members to the exposed surfaces of saidsupporting members inwardly of one edge of each panel with the edgeadjacent the secured portion projecting beyond the exposed surface andthe other edge overlapping the secured edge of the next adjacent panel,flexing the rnidportion of the panel inwardly of the supporting surfaceswhile forcing the overlapping unsecured edge thereof over the projectingedge of the ('5 said adjacent panel to seat said unsecured edge on theinner face of said adjacent panel, whereby the portions of the panelsbetween the supporting members are maintained in a stressed and somewhatarcuate condition.

References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 1,659,762 2/1928 Bonsall 52-478 X2,311,170 2/1943 Hain 52-223 2,575,941 11/1951 Brunnzell 52-629 X2,615,211 10/ 1952 Gardner 52-495 3,173,523 3/1965 Mote 52-222 3,186,7126/1965 Kessler 52-222 X FOREIGN PATENTS 690,473 7/ 1964 Canada.

657,044 2/ 1938 Germany.

604,065 6/ 1948 Great Britain.

HENRY C. SUTHERLAND, Primary Examiner.

